Racing Program at Saugus Canceled Because of Rain

An on-again, off-again racing program at Saugus Speedway was eventually ruled off for good Saturday night because of intermittent showers.

Some preliminary races were run before a misting rain halted racing during the Trophy Dashes. After a 1-hour, 15-minute delay, officials dried the track and attempted to get the 40-lap NASCAR Sportsman main event under way. However, as soon as the first contingent of Sportsman cars hit the track, the rain came again, prompting officials to cancel the rest of the program for the drivers’ safety.

Rain checks were issued to spectators in the crowd, estimated at about 3,000.

It was the first time in several years that a Saugus racing program had been canceled after racing had begun. A Saugus program was canceled because of rain last year, but it was called off before racing had begun.

Earlier this year another program was canceled because of the disturbances and curfew that followed the verdicts in the Rodney G. King beating trial.

In racing that was completed, two Sportsman drivers took on the cement retaining wall in separate incidents. Rodney Peacher of Sepulveda was unconscious for 15 minutes before being transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital for observation. Peacher was released and returned to the track, but he was advised by his doctor not to race.

Pat Mintey Jr. of Quartz Hill also hit the wall, but he was able to walk away from the incident and even had his car repaired in time to return to the track.

In other early action, Scott Roark of Agua Dulce erased Brian Kelley’s 1989 Street Stock qualifying record of 18.82 seconds with a one-lap clocking of 18.77 seconds.

Kenny Sapper of La Crescenta won the Sportsman six-lap Trophy Dash, Roark took the Street Stock division contest and John Petsco of Newbury Park won the Mini Stock division race.

Results from races completed before the cancellation will not count toward the season point standings.